Corn-sheller



4 Sheets-#Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

L. GILLET.

CORN-SELLER.

Patent Sept. 20,1881.

WITPIEESES- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. GILLET.

CORN SHBLL'ER.

(No Model.)

No. 247,338. Patented Sept. 20,1881.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 3. v

(No Model.)

L. GILLET.

CORN SHELLER.

No. 247,338. Patented Sept. 20,1881..

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

L. GILLET.

(No Model.)

CORN SHELLER Patented Sept. 20, 1881.*

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

LOUIS GILLET, OF NEVDA, ASSIGNOR TO ANDREW H. SHREFFLER, OF

i JOLIET, ILLINOIS.

CORN-SHELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,338, dated September 20, 1881.

A Application led December 27, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, LOUIS GILLET, ot' Nevada, in the county of Livingston and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Shellers, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in power corn-shellers. the object of the same being to increase the capacity, durability, cheap ness, and efficiency of such machines.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure lis a side elevation of a corn-Sheller embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, taken through the center of one ot' the feeding-holes. Fig.3 is a cross-section on line 3 of Fig. 2. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 arer detail views, showing parts hereinafter to be described. v

The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts wherever used.

In said drawings, A represents the frame of the machine mounted upon the carriage A'. Bis the feed-elevator, which delivers the corn to the machine.y B is the cob-elevator, and B2 is the elevator by which the shelled corn is delivered from the machine. The stripper or shelling wheels G, bevel runners Gf, pickerwheels C2, force-feed C3, fan or blower G4, and screw-conveyer C5 are all connected with suitable gearin gs or driving mechanisms, and may be of any ordinary construction.

The Separator, or mechanism for separatin g the corn from the cobs and husks, consists of a screen or series of loose rods, d, hin ged at their lower ends to the transverse rod d', and resting freely upon the comb-shaped cob-carriers d2, between the teeth thereof, the teeth serving at the same time to keep the rods parallel tol and equidistant from each other. The upper ends of the rods d are curved downward, as shown at d3,so that when the combs pass over the sprocket-wheels d* the teeth will project the cobs well onto the second separator or cob-carrier, D, by which the cobs are conveyed to the cob-elevator B. The combs d2 are riveted or otherwise secured at each end to corresponding links of the two endless chains d5, one on each side of the separator, the chains being carried upon and driven by the sprocket-wheels d6.

struction.

The upper ends of the rods d are entirely free, beingsimply supported by the combs as theyare carried along on the endless chains d5, the teeth of the combs serving to keep the rods apart and in place, and to clean ont and keep open the space between the rods, so that the shelled corn will readily drop through the screen, as well as to carry away the cobs and husks. By this arrangement, as the screen is always'kept perfectly clean by means ofthe combs, and as the rods are also loose and slightly movable under action of the moving combs, the corn is very thoroughly separated from the cobs and husks without the necessity of giving to the screen any shaking or vibratory motion, as has heretofore been usually done. Bythus dispensing with this vibratory or shaking motion I am on that account enabled to run the whole machine at a much greater speed, thus not only increasing the capacity of the machine, but also its eiciency. I also thus avoid the wear and tear of the machine due to the vibration of the entire structure caused by the shaking motion of the separator. The rods d, I prefer to make round, as that shape is better adapted to allow the corn to fall through the screen. The corn, after it falls through the screen, drops down upon the inclines E E', and then into the screwconveyer C5, whence it passes to the corn-elevator B2, which is provided with a movable spout, B3, for delivering the corn.

The oblique ratchets G, which serve to regulate the passage of the corn-ears into the ma chine, and at the same time to give to the ears a rotary motion, so thatthe shellingwheels will act on all sides or parts of the ear, are se cured rigidly to the straps or bars g by means of rivets g', which are pivoted at their other ends to the cast spring-holders g2, so as to allow a slight vibratory movement to the ratch ets G, for the purpose of causing the same, by means of the spring g3, to press against the corn-ears, whatever may be their size. The end of the strap g iits in a recessed seat in the spring-holder, and g4 is the lugor pin which holds it in place. This lug or pin is cast with the spring-holder, as that is the cheaper con- It lits loosely in a hole near the end of the strap g, so as to allow the vibratory movement of the same before described.

i 'I i One end of the spring g3 is secured in a mortisein the end of the spring-holder, andits other end is held in place bya staple, g5, on the end of the ratchet.

' g is the bolt which holds the spring. It is provided with a thumb-nut, gi, for regulating t-he tension of the spring.

Heretofore the strap to which the ratchet is riveted has been riveted fast at its other end to the spring-holder, and great difiiculty has been experienced from the strap breakin g, due toits constant vibration and the strains put upon it. Besides avoiding this difficulty, by employing a pivoted ratchet, as described, I am enabled to use a much lighter and cheaper spring, and also at the same time to press the ratchet against the varying-sized ears of corn with much greater promptness and efficiency.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section on line 7 ot' Fig. 5.

Fig. 4 is a detail view, in perspective, looking up against the ratchets.

H H are castingst'orming the partof the hopper above the bevel runners, just back of thev ratchets, or rather between the bevel runners Y at their larger diameters, and provided with bevel runner near its larger diameter, there is A a tendency, on. account of the greater velocity of this part ofthe bevel runner, to lift the ear or carry it directly through the machine without coming in contact with the stripper or shell- .ing-wheels, and especially is this the case when another earis passing through atthe same time. Much of the imperfect work of corn-shellers is due to this difficulty, which I have thus obviated.

Certain parts of the machine shown in the drawings of this my specification are the i11- vention, as I believe, of Milo L. Cook; and I hereby disclaim the improvements claimed by him in his application of even date herewith, the parts so disclaimed being the device for elevating the corn-ears, consisting of a series of elevating-chains with links having projections, an elevating-trough provided with trucks for the elevating-chains, and the device for'adj usting said chainsindependently oteach other; the device for properly guiding the corn-ears into the feedholes, consisting of the upper and lower guards attached to the end ofthe elevator; the vibratory back having atiexibleiiap at its lower edge operated by my movable combs, and the screen of fixed rods in connection with a series ot movable combs having short teeth on their lower edge.

l. In a corn-Sheller, the combination of a screen otloose rods with movablecomb-shaped cob-carriers, which support said rods between their teeth, substantially as specilied.,

2. The combination of the combs, endless chains, sprocketwheels, and screen composed of loose rods, substantially as specified.

3. Ihe combination of the movable combs with the loose rods hinged at their lower ends,

.whereby the rods are given a slight quiver or motion for the purpose of better separating the corn from tbe cobs and husks, substantially as specified.

V4f. rlhe combination, with the bevel runners and shelling-wheels, of part H, provided with projection or projections h, inserted above the bevel runners at their larger diameter, for the purpose of deiiectng the corn-ears against the shelling-wheels, substantially as specified.

LoUs GILLET. Witnesses:

AUGUsTUs MELcHoIn, GEORGE T. STUFFLER. 

